Thomas Edwin Barrett

Lt Col Thomas E. Barrett, USAF, Ret., age, 84, of Long Beach, passed away on January 16, 2013, in Gulfport.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Kay Barrett, a son, Jeffery Morse, and his parents, Arnold Frank and Julia Phillips.
Survivors include his son, Thomas E. Barrett, Jr., and his wife Dana, a sister, Betty Markley, a daughter-in-law, Terri Morse, 2 grandchildren, Taylor Morse and Sage Barrett, and loving puppy, ""Licorice"", and the staff of Harbor View Café in Long Beach.
Mr. Barrett served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and later served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam wars retiring as a Lt. Colonel. In the Air Force, he was a Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy. He later retired from the Gulfport VA after 33 years as the Chief of MAT. He also worked at the Gulfport Job Corps and also J.L. Scott Marine Education Center where he was director of the Sea Camp for many years. He was a 1952 graduate of Mississippi Southern College (now USM) with a BS degree. Mr. Barrett was a member and Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Gulfport, and a founding member of the Long Beach Yacht Club and served 2 terms as Commodore, a musician and drummer in the 1st MS Jazz Band, and was an accomplished artist. He loved sailing and taught many children the art of sailing and respect for the beauty of the gulf. He volunteered many hours for various organizations along the coast. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Visitation will be from 8 - 9 am Monday, January 21, 2013, at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach. The funeral service will be at 9 am in the funeral home chapel.
Interment will be in Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, P.O. Box 207, Gulfport, MS 39502.
An online guest book may be viewed and signed at www.riemannfamily.com